Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Naperville libraries are top-shelf

The Nichols Library branch of the Naperville Public Library, which received a five-star rating from the Library Journal publication. (Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune)

Three of the nation's 30 most bustling libraries nationwide operate in Chicago's suburbs and have consistently earned a top five-star ranking based on quantity of services they provide, according to an annual survey by the New York-based Library Journal publication.

The library systems in Arlington Heights, Schaumburg and Naperville since 2009 have boasted the largest circulations, numbers of patron visits, program attendance and public Internet computer use on a per-capita basis, according to the annual survey. Experts compared libraries whose operating budgets fell within the same range, which, at these facilities, ranged from $10 million to $29.9 million in 2012.

"You are being compared to your spending peers," said Keith Curry Lance, an independent consultant and co-creator of the survey.

"We like to think of it as a sort of Michelin Guide for libraries — though obviously the criteria are very different," he said, referring to the comparison of food quality to library services.

The Arlington Heights Memorial Library claims 2.6 million circulations annually, one of the highest circulations of any single-standing library nationwide, said Jason Kuhl, executive director.

"It is a reflection of how much our community uses the library, so I think it says as much about the community as it does the library," Kuhl said. Many programs that cater to small businesses have been especially popular since the recession, he said.

In Schaumburg, the library stays open until 10 p.m. weeknights and from noon to 9 p.m. Sundays in an effort to meet that community's needs, said Melissa Jones, director of kidsZone for youth. The library has just announced the opening of a 6,000-square-foot Teen Place.

Since last year, the Schaumburg Township District Library has twice held swearing-in ceremonies for new citizens.

"That speaks to the fact that we have a very diverse community and basically there is something at the library for everybody," Jones said.

Other five-star performers this year include the Oak Park Public Library and the Northbrook Public Library, within the category of $5 million to $9.9 million in operating costs.